~HAZEL~

The parcel lands with a thud between us, a neat blue box tied with a yellow ribbon.

Clean clothes, exactly as the Soul Keepers promised. Neither of us bends to retrieve it.

Ashton's hands are still on my waist, thumbs pressing just beneath my ribs as if he's memorizing the shape of me. My pulse is frantic, and I have to force myself to be calm.

Whatever confession hovered on his tongue a moment ago stays locked behind his teeth. I definitely would never know what he was ...